Standards - Exemplars

Standards, or exemplars, are known, verifiable handwriting samples that are used for comparison purposes.  It is important to remember that the standards can "make or break" the case.  Inadequate standards (either in quantity, quality or veracity) will impact the strength of the opinion.  Weak standards will produce a weak opinion.



Standards should be relevant (compare signatures to signatures - numbers to numbers, etc), contemporaneous if at all possible (bracketing the date of the disputed handwriting), sufficient in number and original documents if available.



The images at the right demonstrate the importance of contemporaneous standards.  In twenty years, the signature of this individual changed from a legible, textbook signature to a hastily written loop.



Standards fall into two categories:   natural standards and requested standards.



Natural Standards​ are handwriting samples that are the product of everyday life (notes, business records, checks, contracts) and, for all the obvious reasons, are typically more reliable than requested standards.  Cancelled checks can be helpful as they contain signatures, handwriting, handwritten numbers and mannerisms (2-12-06 - 2/12/06 - Feb. 12, 2006 - 12th Feb. 2006).  They are also readily available but, regreatabley, no longer as originals.  Driver licenses, Social Security cards and credit cards generally make poor standards.



Requested Standards are handwriting samples written specifically for exemplar purposes. They can be used in conjunction with natural standards or, occasionally, may be the only standards available.  Unfortunately, requested standards are not always representative of the individual's true handwriting.  A person so inclined could intentionally alter their handwriting to such an extent as to render the standards all but useless.  Or the circumstances surrounding the taking of the standards could be so stressful to the writer that their handwriting might become ridged and unnatural.  To insure that the standards collected are the best they can be, the following procedures should be followed:



• First and foremost, NEVER show the disputed handwriting to the writer.  Do not have them write anything from memory.  DICTATE EVERYTHING.  DO NOT HELP THEM WITH SPELLING.  DO NOT HELP THEM WITH PUNCTUATION.

• Place an assortment of writing instruments (ball point pens, felt pens, gel pens, pencils) at the writer's disposal and allow him or her to choose the one they are most comfortable with.  Their choice could be significant.  However, regardless of their choice, have them write with either a black or dark blue ball point pen and on both lined and unlined white paper.  Only use one 1 side on the paper.

• Take relevant standards.  If the subject is suspected of writing a signature other then their own, have them write that signature.  Have them write only 1 or 2 signatures per page and then remove the page from their sight.  Have them write words that contain the same letter combinations as the disputed signature.

• Mix up the standards...  signatures, alphabets (upper and lower case), numbers, etc.  Have the subject write in both printed and cursive letters.

• Have the subject write with their alternate hand.

• Rush them.  Do not give the writer an opportunity to think about what they are doing.

• Take many standards.  More is always better.

• Date and initial (witness) each page in an inconspicuous place.  Have the subject signature each page.

• If the document on which the disputed handwriting appears is significant in any way (like a check), have the subject write on reproductions of the document